Transgender Man is Finalist in Sexiest Vegan Contest

Salt Lake City resident Dexter Thomas beat out scores of other contestants to be named the first openly transgender man with a shot at winning annual PETA contest.

For the first time ever, a transgender man has been named a finalist in People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ Sexiest Vegan Next Door contest. Aside from his good looks, Dexter Thomas, a 34-year-old transgender rights activist and doctoral student hailing from Salt Lake City, UT, has a long list of animal-welfare accomplishments on his resumé. The long-time vegan made the switch at 17; led a campaign to have his high school carry vegan lunch options; got his rural, cattle-ranching family to go vegan; works with the Utah Animal Rights Coalition to fight against rodeos; and is a doctorate student of social psychology in an effort to launch a career as an advocate for animals and homeless sexual-minority youth. “I’m honored and excited to be the first-ever out transgender finalist of PETA’s Sexiest Vegan Next Door contest,” Thomas wrote on Facebook, “…this is a very important time for diverse trans visibility and for all of us to do our best to be a voice for the oppressed.” Last year’s openly gay winner Victor Ivan Barragan has also displayed public support of Thomas, hosting a Facebook event to encourage people to cast their vote for Thomas. Voting ends June 7.